Competing gun rallies planned outside Pa. Capitol

HARRISBURG (AP) — The debate over gun control in the aftermath of the Connecticut school shootings is coming to the Pennsylvania Capitol.

Several rallies are planned Wednesday at the Capitol complex. At 10 a.m., Pennsylvania Responsible Citizens will speak out in defense of the Second Amendment at a rally and march. At noon, CeaseFirePA will gather in the Rotunda to call for action to stop gun violence in the state.

That will be followed at 1 p.m. by a prayer vigil sponsored by the Philadelphia-based group Heeding God’s Call. Capitol police are beefing up security.

Some gun enthusiasts are calling for a boycott of what’s billed as Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor-sports show because of a ban on displays of assault weapons. The nine-day show opens Feb. 2 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex.